Looper and puller actuating mechanism for sewing machines



26, 1937. s UER ET AL 2,097,243

LOOPER AND FULLER AGTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 28,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SauzriSe.

; INVENTORSI -N @NEN WITNESSES.-

Oct. 26, 1937. G. SAUER ET AL LOOPER AND FULLER ACTUATING MECHANISM FORSEWING MACHINES Filed May 28 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ye Smwr 8:.

1 TORNEYS.

WI TNESSES: 6. a g y 11165 6- way Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE LOOPER AND FULLER ACTUATING MECH- ANISM FOR SEWINGMACHINES George Sauer, Berwyn, and Clarence CQSmith,

Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporationof Illinois Application May 28, 1936, Serial No. 82,206

13 Claims. (Cl.112--197) elements ordinarily employed; and by enclosingthe rotary parts through which motion for the actuation of the looperand puller means is derived from a longitudinal rotary shaft beneath thework support of the machine in a closed 011 housing so as to beconstantly lubricated by splash action without requiring attention onthe part of the operator except for replenishing the oil at protractedintervals, and without danger of soiling of the work being seamed in themachine by oil thrown from the moving parts.

In connection with looper and puller actuating mechanism having theabove attributes, it is another object of our invention to make simpleprovisions whereby the feed movement of the puller means can be adjustedto correspond with that of the usual feed element of the sewing machineso that neither stretching nor gathering of the material in the machinecan take place.

Another object of our invention is to make provision in a sewing machineof the kind referred to ,whereby a puller'means can be incorporated atany time without necessitating dismantling the machine or requiringstructural changes other than the addition of a few simple andinexpensive actuating parts.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the followingdetailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I is a view,partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of a sewingmachine conveniently embodying the looper and puller-actuating mechanismof our invention; and

Fig. II is a plan section taken as indicated by the arrows 11-11 in Fig.I.

The illustrated machine has the usual flat horizontal base or, worksupport bed I with a hollow standard 2 rising from one end thereof andsustaining a forwardly-extending hollow overhanging arm 3. Suitablyguided in a head 4 at the free end of the arm 3 is a vertical bar 5carrying a needle 6, which, incident to endwise reciprocation of saidbar, passes up and down through the support I as it penetrates the work(not shown) being sewed. The usual presser foot of the machine isindicated at l in Fig. I. Adapted to cooperate with the needle 6 belowthe work support I is a looper 8 whereof the arm 9 is fulcrumed foroscillation transversely of the direction of feed about a pivot Ill on arocker I I,

which latter is mounted to swing back and forth in the direction offeed, on a rock shaft l2 journaled in downward bearing lugs on said worksupport, one of these bearing lugs being indicated at I3. The bar I4(see Fig. II) for the usual feed dog (not shown) may be operated in anywell known manner through mechanism actuated from a longitudinallyextending rotary shaft l5 under the work support I which shaft isjournaled in fixed bearingslfi and i I. The right hand or rear end ofthe shaft I5 extends through the bearing I'I into an oil sump I8immediately beneath and communicating with the hollow of the standard 2.Through suitable means within the hollow of the standard 2, the shaft I5is rotated from the upper or main shaft 22 of the machine, which latteris journaled within the overhanging arm 3 of the machine frame andadapted to be driven either manually or under power after commonpractice in the operation of sewing machine Through appropriate means(not illustrated within, the head 4, the needle bar 5 receives itsreciprocatory motion from the shaft 22. As a means for assisting thefeed' dog in progressively advancing the work crosswise of the worksupport I past the stitch forming instrumentalities, the machineisfitted with a puller means which includes a pair of, superimposed pullerrolls 23, 24 whereof the upper one 23 is freely revolvable in a yoke 25at the lower end of a presser bar 26 having guidance for up and ablyjournaled beneath the work support I.

The mechanism which we have devised for actuating the looper and thepuller means of a sewing machine such as briefly described up to thispoint comprises a quadrangular oil housing 28 whereof the walls29, 30,3| and 32 are in this instance integrally formed with,v and depend fromthe work support I. Access to the parts at the interior of the housing28 may be continuously through the oil housing 28and' has add tionaljournal support in bearing bushings 35,

36, respectively set into the front and rear end walls 29, 30 of saidhousing.-

The looper 8 is oscillated transversely of the line of feed, through themedium of a pitman 31, by a crank 38 medially of a short looperactuatingshaft 39, see Fig. II, lying in the same horizontal plane with the shaftl but at right As shown, the opposite is to be particularly observedthat the connection 45 between the crank 38 of the shaft 39 and thecorresponding end of the pitman 31 is of the universal or ball jointtype, so that said pitman can freely adapt itself to the motion of thelooper rocker Ii about the shaft I 2 with avoidance of binding restraintbetween the parts. The

shaft l2 of the looper rocker i I is oscillated as a result of theconnection of a lateral arm 46 thereon with an eccentric 41 on the shaftIS.

The puller roll shaft 21 is intermittently rotated in timed relationwith the feed mechanism of the machine through the means about to bedescribed. Journaled in bushings 48, 49 in the walls 29, 30 (Fig. I)below the shaft l5 in the same vertical plane, is a short countershaft50, from which the puller means is actuated. This puller-actuating shaft50 is in turn driven at unison speed from the shaft I5 by a separaterotary transmission means consisting of a pair of intermeshing spurgears 5!, 52 also within the oil housing 28. Associated with the shaft21 of the lower puller-roll 24 is an intermittent clutch device 53 whichmay be of any of the well known kinds ordinarily used in connection withsewing machines. As shown, the oscillating operating arm 54 of theclutch device 53 is connected, by means of a link 55, with a crank pin56 which is radially adjustable in a slotted head at the right handprotruding end.

of the puller-actuating shaft 50, see Fig. I of the drawings. Thehousing 28 is, of course, kept partly filled with oil so that the gears43, 44, 5|, 52, the bearings35, 36 for the shaft IS, the bearing 40 forthe looper-actuating shaft, and the bearings 48, 49 for thepuller-actuating shaft tary transmission means which has the eflect ofgreatly reducing noise and vibration and which therefore favorsoperation of the sewing machine at correspondingly higher speeds. Ourimproved looper and puller actuating mechanism is also unique andadvantageous from a practical standpoint by virtue of the small,substantially frictionless cranks which are employed on the separatelooper and puller actuating shafts; the capacity-of the looper pitman tocompensate for the feed-wise rocking movement of the looper; I

and the simple and readily accessible provisions whereby the movement ofthe puller rolls can be adjusted to correspond accurately with that ofthe feed dog and so preclude either stretching or gathering of thefabric being sewed. The disclosed construction is further advantageousin that in instances where a puller means is not desired, the pulleractuating shaft may be omitted and the bearing openings in thetransmission housing for said puller actuating shaft closed by suitableplugs. On the other hand, the machine may at any subsequent time beadapted for the use of puller means at a very small expense, simply byinstalling the puller actuating shaft in the transmission housing.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a sewing machine having a horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, 'a looper cooperating with the needle beneath the work support,and puller means for progressing the work being sewed on the worksupport; the combination of looper and puller actuating mechanismcomprising separate actuating shafts for the looper and the pullermeans, and rotary transmission means enclosed in an oil housing underthe work support and coordimating the looper and puller-actuating shaftswith the rotary shaft aforesaid.

2. In a sewing machine having a horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, a looper cooperating with the needle beneath said work support,and puller means for progressing the work being sewed on the worksupport; the combination of looper and puller actuating mechanismcomprising separate actuating shafts for the looper and the pullermeans, and separate sets of transmission gears coordinating the looperand puller-actuating shafts with said rotary shaft.

3. In 'a sewing'machine having a horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, a looper cooperating with the needle beneath said work support,and puller means for progressing the work being sewed on the worksupport; the combination of looper and puller I actuating mechanismcomprising separate actuating shafts for the looper and the pullermeans, separate sets of transmission gears coordinating the looper andpuller-actuating shafts with said longitudinal shaft, an oil housingenclosing the two sets of transmission gears, and bearings in the wallsof said housing through which the aforesaid rotary shaft, thelooper-actuating shaft and puller-actuating shaft extend.

'4. In a sewing machine having a horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, a pivotally mounted looper cooperating with the needle beneaththe work support, and puller means for progressing the work being sewedon the work support; the combination of looper and puller actuatingmechanism including separate actuating shaftsfor the looper and pullermeans, rotary transmission means by which the looper and pulleractuating'shafts are coordinated with the rotary shaft aforesaid, a

pitman connecting the looper with a crank on the looper-actuating shaft,and operating connections between the puller means and the actuworksupport, a needle operated from above the work support, a longitudinallyextending rotary shaft under the work support, a looper cooperating withthe needle beneath the work support, said looper being pivotally mountedfor oscillation transversely of the line of feed, and puller means toprogress the work being sewed crosswise of the work support; thecombination of looper and puller actuating mechanism comprising alooper-actuating shaft at right angles to the longitudinal shaftaforesaid, a pitman connecting the looper with a crank on thelooperactuating shaft, a separate actuating shaft for the puller means,operating connections between said puller means and its actuating shaft,and

of feed, and puller means to progress the work being sewed crosswise ofthe work supportj the combination of looper and puller actuatingmechanism comprising a looper-actuating shaft at right angles to thelongitudinal shaft aforesaid, a pitman coordinating the'looper with aball crank on the looper actuating shaft permitting swinging of thelooper as aforesaid without imposition of binding restraint, aseparateactuating shaft for the puller means, operating connection between saidpuller means and its actuating shaft, and rotary transmission meanscoordinating the looper and puller-actuating shafts with thelongitudinal shaft.

7. In a'sewing machine having a horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a longitudinally-extending rotaryshaft under the work support, a looper cooperating with the needlebeneath the work support, and a pair of opposing puller rolls forprogressing the work being sewed crosswise of the work support; thecombination of looper and puller actuating mechanism comprising alooper-actu- 'ating shaft, operating connections between the,

looper and its actuating shaft, a separate aotuating shaft for thepuller rollsextending parallel,

with the longitudinal shaft, an intermittent clutchdevice associatedwith one of the puller rolls, operating connections between the clutchdevice and the puller-actuating shaft, and rotary transmission meanscoordinating the looper and puller actuating shafts with thelongitudinalshaft.

8. In a sewing machine having a horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a longitudinally-extendingrotatsupport, a looper cotary shaft aforesaid.

one of the puller rolls, a link connecting an operating arm of theclutch device with an adjustable crank on the puller-actuating shaft,and rotary transmission means coordinating the looper and pulleractuating shafts with the longitudinal shaft.

9. In a sewing machine having a horizontal Work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, and a looper cooperating with the needle beneath the worksupport; the combination of looper actuating mechanism comprising alooper actuating shaft; a set of transmission gears coordinating thelooper actuating shaft with the longitudinal shaft, an oil housingenclosing the transmission gears, and bearings in walls of the housingthrough which said rotary shaft and the looper actuating shaft extend.

10. In a sewing machine having a horizontal work-support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, and a pivotally mounted looper cooperating with the needlebeneath the work support; the combination of looper actuating mechanismincluding a looper actuating shaft, a ro-' tary transmission means bywhich thhe looperactuating shaft is coordinated with the rotary shaftaforesaid, and a pitman connecting the looper with acrank on the loopershaft.

11. In a sewing machine having a horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, and a looper cooperating with the needle beneath the worksupport, said looper being pivotally mounted for oscillationtransversely of the line of feed; the combination of looper actuatingmechanism comprising a looper actuating shaft at right angles to thelongitudinal shaft aforesaid, a pitman connecting the looper with acrank on the looper-actuating shaft; and rtary transmission meanscoordinating the looper with the longitudinal shaft. I

12. In a sewing machine having a. horizontal work support, a needleoperated from above the work support, a rotary shaft under the worksupport, and a looper cooperating with the needle beneath the worksupport, said looper being pivotally mounted for oscillationtransversely of the line of feed, and a rocker fulcrumed for swingingmovement in the direction of feed; the combination of looper actuatingmechanism comprising a looper actuating shaft at right angles tothelongitudinal shaft aforesaid, a pitman. coordinating the looper witha ball crank on the looper actuating shaft permitting swinging of thelooper as aforesaid without imposition of binding restraint, and rotarytransmission means coordinating the looper-actuating shaft with thelongitudinal shaft.

, 13. In a sewing machine having a work support; a needle operated fromabove the work support, a looper cooperating withthe needle beneath-the'work support, a rotaryshaft, and puller means for progressing the workbeing sewed on the work supportpthe combination of looper and pulleractuating mechanism comprising separate actuating shafts for the looperGEORGE SAUER. CLARENCE 0. SMITH.

